Iping and Stedham Commons

Local Nature Reserve

The reserve lies within the South Downs National Park and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest.    The majority of the reserve is owned by the Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT) which manages all but a small part of Trotton Common to the west.

The Reserve is an area of lowland heath.  Many animals and plants living here are dependent on this globally threatened habitat.  These include Woodlark, Dartford Warbler and the Silver-Studded Blue butterfly.

In the past, people used heathland to obtain their food, fuel and shelter.  Grazing and harvesting limited the spread of birch and bracken.   

SWT runs a conservation hit squad that goes out every Wednesday and rotates around a number of reserves that both the Sussex Wildlife Trust and the South Downs National Park Authority manage.    Anyone who is interested in volunteering can contact Jane Willmott, the SWT Living Landscape Officer (mailto:janewillmott@sussexwt.org.uk), who says that it would be great to have new people helping.   SWT also organises various seasonal walks and talks that are normally advertised through the Parish Magazine and on site.

Sussex Wildlife Trust